Gadget uses water puddles to charge batteries

Battery drain can be the bane of warfighter and civilian alike, but new tech means you can charge your devices anywhere without electricity -- provided there is a water source nearby.

Just add a spoonful and get instant power, anytime anywhere.

Handy for anyone who spends time away from electricity, the small, lightweight PowerTrekk could power critical devices for warfighters and aid workers deployed to remote areas of the world.

Developed by a team in Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology and made by MyFC, it's the world’s first water-activated charging device that powers using fresh or salt water, the developers claim. It can extend battery life up to 3 watts.

So if you take an iPhone, the charge would be enough for between 25 and 100 percent of its battery capacity.

Any convenient water can be harvested for power, from a kitchen faucet through to a puddle in the jungle.

Solar charging can be affected by the weather and the position of the sun, of course, and not hugely helpful if your urgent power shortage hits at night. Water charging isn’t hindered by these external factors. Even in a desert, a spoonful of water from your thermos can give you power.

The new device leverage’s the team’s more than 15 years of research on micro fuel cell technology and small flat Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells at the Department of Applied Electrochemistry at KTH.

To use the PowerTrekk charger, you fill-up water compartment with about one tablespoon, close the lid and connect it to the electronic device with a USB cable.

It starts charging automatically as the water inside interacts with a small disposable metal disc causing hydrogen gas to be released. When the gas combines with oxygen it converts chemical energy into electrical energy.

While in many ways fuel cells are similar to batteries, they are different in that electrodes do not become consumed making them finite.

Instead provided water and air is provided to the electrodes, these fuel cells will run.

Very green power, water vapor is the only by-product.

Currently, Powertrekk works with devices like cell and smartphones, digital cameras, ipods and GPS. The company is looking into developing their fuel cells to function for larger devices like laptops.

The technology has already sold to customers around the world including China and the United States, MyFC expects to make it available online in the near future.

Ballet dancer turned defense specialist Allison Barrie has traveled around the world covering the military, terrorism, weapons advancements and life on the front line. You can reach her at wargames@foxnews.com or follow her on Twitter @Allison_Barrie.

Allison Barrie is a defense specialist with experience in more than 70 countries who consults at the highest levels of defense and national security, a lawyer with four postgraduate degrees, and author of the definitive guide, Future Weapons: Access Granted, on sale in 30 countries. Barrie hosts the new hit podcast “Tactical Talk” where she gives listeners direct access to the most fascinating Special Operations warriors each week and to find out more about the FOX Firepower host and columnist you can click here or follow her on Twitter @allison_barrie and Instagram @allisonbarriehq.